President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a provisional order banning fixed-odds sports betting and digital casinos just over a week before Brazil’s October 4 election. The ban, effective immediately, requires congressional approval within 120 days or it lapses. Lula compared gambling to cancer, calling it an uncontrolled threat to families and mental health.

The move is seen as a political strategy to boost his re-election chances against Flávio Bolsonaro, with polls showing a tight race. Analysts called it a desperate measure amid economic discontent and slowing GDP growth. The ban targets an industry that generated R$36.9bn in revenue last year, with critics warning it could push users to illegal offshore sites.

Lula also announced a 15% welfare payment increase and new debt relief schemes, drawing criticism from opponents as pre-election giveaways. A recent survey found 75% of Brazilian adults support banning online betting, which became legal in 2018.